ROLANDO Bianchi reacted to the news that Nery Castillo is about to join the battle for striking places at City with a pledge that he is going nowhere in the January transfer window.
Pocket Mexican rocket Castillo was in the crowd to watch his new team-mates come from behind to beat Bolton 4-2 at Eastlands.
The 23-year-old who only signed a five-year deal at Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer will join the Blues on a year-long loan. He will be eligible to play for the first time away at Newcastle United on New Year's Day.
Castillo has played only eight games in Ukraine after a near £16m summer transfer from Olympiacos where he spent seven years.
He has passed a medical and the move just has to be rubber-stamped by Shakhtar who will receive a loan fee from the Blues. However, Shakthar president Rinat Akhmetov insisted on his club's website that Castillo would cost five million euros on loan.
He said: "A one-year loan -- five million euros and there will be no options, meaning a right to buy (Castillo)," said Akhmetov, the country's richest man.
"If Castillo finds his game... then in a year we'll decide whether to take him back to Shakhtar or sell. And the price could be 20, or 30, or 40, or 50 million euros."
Castillo has already been looking for a flat in Manchester and his Greek wife and three-month-old baby have left Ukraine and gone back to Greece ready to move to England.
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Although he plays his international football for Mexico, Castillo has Greek citizenship and there is not expected to be any work permit problems.
However, when he begins his search for a place in the Blues starting XI, Castillo will find a back-to-form Bianchi stiff competition.
The £8.8m Italian has scored in each of his last two matches to win back a place in the side and has denied all talk of a New Year return to Serie A.
He said: "I am very happy at City, I do not want to leave, I see a future for me here," he said after taking his tally for the campaign to four goals. "Getting into the side and staying there is a challenge for me and I want to win that challenge.
"I speak with the manager regularly but not about leaving. It was important for my confidence that I was able to come on at Spurs and score and then start the game against Bolton.
"It was wonderful to share the goal with City fans who have backed me all the time I have been here and when I have been a bit down have been so instrumental in lifting me again. I think they love me and I love then back, they are fantastic.
"Now I hope that goal against Bolton will be the start of many. I have worked hard and aim to make the most of my chance."
What is your verdict on City's attacking options? Have your say.
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
Spiderman (17/12/2007 at 09:07)
Jesper, Copenhagen (17/12/2007 at 09:13)
p-woodhouse, gorton (17/12/2007 at 09:33)
Giles, Voice of City Fans (17/12/2007 at 09:34)
he may not be the most skilful player but he showed on Saturday he is a right time, right place merchant who will knock them in given half the chance. A poacher's poacher.
I'm not sure about Castillo. Those around me on Saturday were asking me what I knew about him but I remained diplomatic in my assesment. Yes, he's a goalscorer but is he right for the Premier League Giles? 'Not sure'. That's why Sven has only taken him on loan, try him out. Personally I think that he will struggle. Mexicans have never played well in this country. Take Aruva for example.
We need big strikers like Drogab, someone who can outmuscle defenders.
I've a few bets on who's coming in January and they is one signing that will surprise a few people.
Great result on Saturday. Let's hope we can stay in the top four as long as possible, despite those on here who say 'seventh is OK, think where we were last year' etc.
BELIEVE ACHIEVE.
Alan Bell (17/12/2007 at 09:38)
The comments made by Rolando are nothing but positive. IMO there is opnly one club that would have it's fans singing for a substitute in an effort to give him confidence, and that's City!
Sven, Bianchi must start each match now.
It's great that for once, we are but 7 points from safety and it's not even Christmas!!
If Castillo does join us, our attacking 4 must be Bianchi, Bojinof(?), Castillo, Mpenza. Vassell must adapt to the right if he wishes to stay at Eastland. Unfortunately, the end has come for Samaras. He'll be off for next to nowt in January.
Comne on you Blues!!!
The Iceman Cometh, Manchester (17/12/2007 at 09:49)
Whennnnnn theeeee ball hits the net
its a fairly good bet, thats Bianchi (Bianchiiii).
He is from Italy, he has Pasta for tea, thats Bianchi (Bianchiiii)
He is faster than light, he is pure dynamite, thats Bianchi (Bianchiiii).
He can head he can shoot. with his left and right boot, thats Bianche!
Well Done Rolly!!!!
stockholm blue, Sweden (17/12/2007 at 09:51)
kevin cairns, morecambe (17/12/2007 at 09:52)
period to mantain are form.
Steve London/Kippax Borders (17/12/2007 at 09:53)
I don't care. I'm just so happy to be a City fan these days that it's all one happy day after another. What christmas present is Frank bringing us next I wonder ...
IceBlueHelsinki (17/12/2007 at 09:57)
Bianchi rocks and will keep on doing so!
In Sven we trust!
Karem, Roen (17/12/2007 at 09:57)
mad pierre, midlands (17/12/2007 at 09:58)
Denis Law's Backheel, Salford (17/12/2007 at 09:59)
I trust that Fitzroy will also be big enough to come on and eat a bit of humble pie.
Rolando looked everything that Fitzroy said he wasn't. Strong, pacey, top class first touch and the all important poachers instinct.
That was the best centre forward display I've seen for City since Anelka's first season for us.
There was one time in the second half where he received a quick ball played up to him and he was on his own just outside the box with the whole of the Bolton defence behind him. He deftly chested it down and carried it accross their back line with each of the defenders trying to have a go at him. Then just laid it off when the City players managed to join him.
Keep it up Rolando and you'll be a blue hero.
Oh and I hate Rio 'Dumbo' Ferdinand more than I hate Gary Rhodes.
Jack Thorley Timperley (17/12/2007 at 10:02)
Peter Doherty. As good as it gets! Levenshulme. (Debt Free) (17/12/2007 at 10:04)
nick lawless,caterham,surrey,(Blackley born and bred), caterham (17/12/2007 at 10:14)
Tord's Grip, Sunny Switzerland (17/12/2007 at 10:15)
timmy, manchester (17/12/2007 at 10:16)
Great game on Saturday, but I think we learned a lot from it.
1)Bolton were excellent in the first half and our defence was not. They pushed up the field and hassled the defence and made Dunne play balls forward - almost inevitably to a Bolton player. A tough tackling midfielder would have helped alleviate this pressure. We still need a skilful clogger in the centre.
2) Vassell is a crucial part of ther squad and I'm fed up with fans moaning about his limitations - which we can all see. But he does get at, and behind defences, he's strong and he made a big difference in the second half. With other players coming in he may need to spend a lot of time on the bench but he is a vital part of the SQUAD.
3) I wasn't that impressed by Bianchi and can't understand so many fans voting him for man of the match. Vass, the briliiant Johnson and Hamman were all better IMO. He put in a respectable performance but you never think he's going to bust the net with a bit of brilliance. He looks steady and capable but far from the top striker we need. He's not fast or deadly enough.
4) We are clearly playing above ourselves and Sven has done incredibly to get us into 4th spot. But some fans are getting unrealistic about where we might end up (not in two years but at the end of this season).Expect a tough Christmas , but even if we come into the new year further down the table, the management and players shopuld be congratulated on a GARGANTUAN improvement on last season's horror.
Kobeda Boy (17/12/2007 at 10:21)
ablueneville, Somewhere in yorkshire (17/12/2007 at 10:22)
Bluetooth, Manchester (17/12/2007 at 10:26)
If we get the player who played in Greece last season and in the Copa America, we will have a star striker who can also play wide. From what I've seen, he appears to be like Vass, but with class.
He had some troubles in Greece, but settled once he got married and was playing regularly. He hasn't fitted in at Shaktar and some would say is was all about agents fees rather than him ever wanting to go there. Whatever, we have a years loan to assess whether Castillo has finally come of age, with an option to buy. He's also got 2 weeks before January to get himself fit and sort things out. Can't wait to see him playing alongside Bianchi.
The Kippax Kid, Irlam (Now London) (17/12/2007 at 10:32)
Geoff Middlewich, Middlewich Cheshire (17/12/2007 at 10:34)
Weasel (not McKay), Stockport (17/12/2007 at 10:39)
Personally i wouldnt be surprised if Castillo plays on the right wing and we sign another centre forward in January to challenge Bianchi for the starting position.
proudtobeblue (17/12/2007 at 10:41)